Baghdad-INA
Iraq's security situation is experiencing complete and sustained stability, supported by a thorough review of past experiences and lessons learned from the fall of Mosul, the spokesman for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Brig. Gen. Sabah Al-Numan, said on Wednesday.
Al-Numan added that Iraq possesses a vast intelligence database that has contributed to thwarting terrorist operations in France and Spain.
Speaking to Al-Iraqiya News TV, Al-Numan said that commemorating the anniversary of the occupation of Mosul and the Speicher massacre was not intended to revive the pain of those events, but rather to honor the scale of sacrifices made by Iraqis in liberating their territory, reinforce the foundations of national sovereignty and help shape a sustainable security framework for future generations.
He added that the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) emerged from the religious fatwa issued by the Supreme Religious Authority and were not merely a supporting force to the security services, but a key partner in securing victory against ISIS. He also praised the role and sacrifices of the Iraqi media, saying journalists had gone beyond reporting events and had served as "true fighters" on the front lines through their field coverage.
The spokesman for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces said the battle to liberate Mosul served as a bulwark for both regional and international security, noting that the terrorists groups in Mosul included fighters from more than 67 different foreign nationalities.
Al-Numan said Iraq possesses an extensive intelligence database before, during and after the liberation campaigns through the detention of the remnants of these terrorists groups, which constituted a rich source of information required by other countries.
He said Iraqi intelligence agencies had provided their counterparts around the world with critical advance intelligence that helped thwart ISIS plots intended for execution in France and Spain.
He added that intelligence-sharing with international partners remains ongoing, supported by the extensive operational experience accumulated by Iraq's security services during years of counterterrorism operations.
Regarding current capabilities, Al-Numan said that Iraq today is witnessing significant development in technical and technological intelligence capabilities alongside its human capabilities. He stressed that the Prime Minister, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, attaches great importance to building the intelligence system and equipping the security forces with weapons commensurate with their duties and responsibilities.
He added that the intellectual fortification of Iraqi citizens had become a key component of the security architecture, with citizens evolving into a source of intelligence and a pillar of support for the security forces, thereby creating an integrated system encompassing intelligence, command, ideological and security dimensions.